GISA Autumn Election 2024 Candidate Profiles: Pulkeet Mehra for Administrative Director

In conversation with Pulkeet Mehra, second year, MINT (Human Rights & Humanitarianism)

Q. What makes you the ideal candidate for the role of Administrative Director, and how do you believe your background will help you succeed in this position?

I believe my previous experience, specifically in administrative roles, along with a degree in Administration, makes me an ideal candidate for Administrative Director. I’ve navigated everything from high-stakes International, and human rights projects, to the day-to-day management of organizations. Having founded and led a Human Rights NGO, I understand how to balance meticulous organisation, institutional memory, and the ability to collaborate across cultures and teams. Importantly, as someone who regularly attended last year’s GISA Board meetings, I already know how GISA operates and what improvements can be made.

Q. How do you plan to approach the role of Administrative Director in a way that ensures the smooth running of GISA’s operations and fosters a collaborative atmosphere?

My approach is straightforward: to build on GISA’s existing efforts to streamline processes and ensure that every voice is heard. I’ll prioritize the prompt documentation and follow-up of minutes, decisions, and action points to keep everything running smoothly. Thanks to previous cohorts, GISA has already digitised important documentation to preserve Institutional Memory, and I intend to continue this by ensuring all students know where to access these records easily. By keeping things clear and well-organised, we can save time, reduce misunderstandings, and create more room for meaningful collaboration. I’ll also focus on fostering an environment where Board members feel supported and connected, ensuring that we operate as a cohesive team—because when we work well together, everything runs more efficiently.

Q. What past experiences have prepared you for the challenges of this role, and how will you use these experiences to improve GISA’s administrative efficiency?

Having led a Human Rights NGO, I’ve managed complex, multi-stakeholder projects where efficient administration was key to success. My work has required me to handle both large-scale operations—like coordinating national policy meetings and international diplomacy events—and day-to-day tasks like record-keeping, minute-taking, and organising reports. I’ve also had to navigate bureaucratic and governmental systems, which has taught me how to create smooth workflows even in complicated environments. These experiences have sharpened my ability to organise, prioritise, and problem-solve, which I will bring to GISA to ensure our administrative processes are streamlined and efficient.

Q. If elected, what would be your primary goal as Administrative Director, and how would you ensure its successful implementation during your tenure?

My primary goal would be to enhance the accessibility and transparency of GISA’s operations for all students. While everything is already digitized and centralized, I would focus on making sure students know exactly how to access these resources and understand GISA’s processes. Additionally, along with the Communications Director and the student body, I’d work on improving communication ensuring students are fully informed about GISA’s decisions, how they are made, and how they can engage with the process. By maintaining clear, open lines of communication, we can foster stronger student involvement and trust.

Q. How do you plan to make GISA more accessible and transparent for students, particularly when it comes to administrative processes and decision-making?

Accessibility and transparency have always been central to my work, and they’re especially important in creating a well-functioning GISA. While GISA’s minutes and decisions are already publicly available, my focus will be on ensuring that they remain easily accessible and user-friendly for all students. Small changes, such as the fonts we use or color choices, can have a big impact—something I’m personally aware of as someone who is color blind. I’ll ensure that accessibility issues of all kinds are taken into account. I also plan to maintain clarity by introducing automated progress tracking for GISA’s initiatives, so students can easily follow what’s happening and how things are progressing. Finally, I’ll continue fostering a culture of open communication where every student feels comfortable bringing forward their ideas or concerns, with clear visibility on how decisions are made and who is responsible. Transparency fosters trust, and ensuring that all students feel included in the process will be a key priority for me.

Q. What are three core values you bring to the role of Administrative Director?

The three values I would bring are, efficiency, transparency and collaboration As for efficiency, my focus will always be on ensuring GISA’s operations are streamlined, reducing unnecessary delays or confusion, so we can focus on serving students effectively. With transparency, I believe in clear, open communication, ensuring that all processes are democratic, visible, and understandable to the student body, so everyone feels included and informed. And last with collaboration, no one can do it alone. I am committed to fostering a collaborative environment where every Board member’s strengths are utilised and students feel like they have a voice in the decision-making process.

Editor’s Note: Responses have been edited for clarity.

Voting is open now and will close on October 10 at 10:30 a.m. We encourage all students to participate and cast their votes